New-York tribune. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1866-1924, 1887-08-07
TIE TREASURY scandal.
THE GOVERNMENT ROBBED OF $4,000.
CONTROLLER DURHAM DISTURBED AT THE PUB
LEGATION OF THE FACTS.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TrIsUSE.I


LEGATION OF THE FACTS.
Try TELEGRAPH TO THE TrIsUSE.1
WASHINGTON. Aug. 6.-The publication In To-Day
TRIBUNE respecting the payment by the treasury Dc
partment OF claims suspected to be fraudulent mas
caused great perturbation among certain Democratic
officials When Controller Durham heard OF nc put on
his hat and lost time in paying visit to the Interior
Department What took place between him and score
tary Lamar was not disclosed after his return to his
Office Mr.. Durham had to say only that ihE
TRIBUNE publication correct as to the decision
OF the controversy between him and the Commissioner
OF the General Land ONCE; that II any frauds have
been committed or improper payments made
the Controllers Office is not cognizant OF or
responsible for them, aud that no payments
have been made which had not been duly certified by tue
Commissioner OF the General Land ONCE as the law re-
Quires. He added, however, that the question OF MS
authority require the Com missioner to state an ac
count was ably argued in behalf OF his Office by exCon-
gressmen Hurd and Thompson and by wilson :. BIS ell
OF Buffalo The Attorney General did not agree WIZ
them.
To THE TRIBUNE correspondent Commissioner SPARKS
said "Yes 1t is true that accounts have been paid
which not certified by me- think great ms'aAe
has been made The story Is long one and the case Is
complicated that not time to go into details
1t is remembered that Controller durham
.eemed especially anxious that the Land Commissioner
should state and certify certain surveyors accounts
while In the OF officials in other branches OF tne
the OF services and yet FOR years
for surveys Under the post system have been un-
der suspicion and subjected to the most rigid scrutiny
Inc Republican predecessors OF Com missioner spaTxs
repeatedly urged the repeal of the deposit law and MT
Hiscock when he was chairman OF the APPROPRIATIONS
Committee, tried but failed TO enOody sucn rePedd
in appropriation law He did s 81, 20:
worst feature, and General SPARKS his report con
mended the reform, while he Joined with MS re Re
publican predecessors in RECOMMENDING ,r .ne
Controller Durham must have been aware OF All .n S
puted and suspicious accounts to settlemen' may ,i
the action OF the Land Commissioner must
be regarded as strange ana illconsdered.
1t is asserted that the loss to the G9verh hit
payments Tor the California accounts alone
amounts to some $4,000 Treasury officials express
the opinion that such payments could nave been mauo
only by duplication and some 9t ihen d Hs
covered will lie that dsalOwaDces which nave $1,000
for years unexplained and apparently abandonei
the amounts allowed Iheso disallowhhces we.o
made for many reasons, for causes SONS
deputy surveyors fled notes. which trees and wness
corners" were properly shown, unaiowaDle AZURE
viatiOns used aiavits not properly executed pos hot
corresponding with field notes and so forth SOhe mes
the appropriation had been exhausted anu
would not cover all the survey ana t9e
remaining portion would have TO be rest@.ed III
preparation should become available. In SOME
cases there excuses OF repayment on suIIe5s
conducted under the special deposit system.
The sudden removal OF dsaOv ances after lapse OF ven
or fifteen years would be in Itself suspicious ana WOMB
require thorough and satisfactory explanation but
IL is again asserted that something more than tho re-
that accounts have been allowed whlch nave aIHauy
been paid anu moreover IL Is asserted thai these aoM
and duplicate payments nave pech mbHe W o'.
cias under the present administration OF economy anu
reform"